The game mechanics focus  on the variables that shape operational outcomes at division and corps echelon: 

Operational intelligence shapes what a commander can see, know, and act upon – it determines how much information you have about the enemy forces. The greater a sides intelligence, the more detail you have about enemy locations, their movements, composition and strength. The side with superior intelligence can respond more precisely and maintain the initiative. Commanders must choose carefully the amount of resources to spend and the locations to gather intelligence. 

A sides hierarchy is achieved through headquarter units. These form the backbone of effective operations and can directly affect how well units perform. Providing units with command and control keeps them operating at full efficiency. Headquarters use Staff Points to emulate C2 capacity and players will use these issuing orders to subordinate units to change tactical posture. 

Mode represents the tactical posture of a unit, reflecting how it is organised, oriented, and prepared for its next task. This simulates the reality that a unit advancing aggressively is configured very differently to one digging in. Switching between these takes time and deliberate effort and it might not always be possible for commanders to change all units. This mechanic encourages players to think ahead – a unit caught in the wrong posture will underperform creating consequences for poor planning. 

Supply of resources and ammunition is critical in ensuring combat effectiveness. Headquarter units are used to create supply chains from the Main Supply Route (MSR) to combat units.  Players need to be strategic when placing and moving HQs to allow supply lines to remain open and to avoid overextending unsupported units when advancing. Supply lines can be disrupted and contested by enemy actions and their zone of control. 

Each side has a pool of assets that represent the specialised capabilities and resources available to that commander. These assets are used to perform a range of functions such as intelligence gathering, counter-battery fire or combat support. This variety and choice means players must think carefully about where and when to assign assets, as the right capability in the right place can make all the difference in battle. Crucially, not all assets are equal in their availability. Some will recover over time and can be used repeatedly over the course of a scenario, while others are single-use that once committed, are gone. Using a one-time asset at the wrong moment can leave a commander without a critical capability when it matters most.

Fatigue tracks the cumulative toll that sustained operations take on a unit, reflecting the physical and mental strain that builds over time. As units remain active, fatigue levels climb and this can cumulate in reducing combat effectiveness and slowing movement. This forces players to manage the operational tempo of their forces carefully, rotating units out of the line and avoiding the temptation to push the same formations repeatedly. A commander who ignores fatigue will find their best units gradually worn down, mirroring the very real challenge of sustaining momentum in prolonged military operations. 

Terrain plays an important factor in how commanders position and move their units. The terrain and nearby features affects how far units can move in a given turn, with open terrain allowing rapid advance while rougher ground slows movement considerably. Terrain also affects combat effectiveness, meaning a unit occupying favourable ground is inherently harder to dislodge than one caught in the open. Tactical players will use movement deliberately to establish attack fronts, create defensible lines, or to exploit gaps in the enemy’s position.  

Combat is calculated by these interconnected mechanics at the moment of engagement. A unit that is well-supplied, well-rested, properly postured, and supported by an effective HQ will fight very differently to one that is exhausted, isolated, and caught in the wrong stance. To help commanders make effective decisions, combat predictions are provided before committing to an attack giving an informed view of likely outcomes. Commanders are also provided with end of turn summaries indicating the overall status of their units highlighting emerging threats.

 

The three Suwalki Gap scenarios deliver a linked operational campaign directly relevant to NATO Article 5 contingency planning.  

Scenario 1: Objective Alytus -1GTA offensive, conducted defence of southern Lithuania. 

Scenario 2: Seizing the Gap – Russian exploitation and land bridge establishment between Kaliningrad and Belarus 

Scenario 3: Breaking the Line – NATO 1st Armoured Division counter-attack to restore the corridor and defeat 1GTA. 

Officers will work through the full operational arc, regularly under pressure and with situational challenges. The consequences of early decisions can dramatically impact how scenarios play out across the campaign.